Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Comac has collected a new order for 30 C919s from China Merchants Bank, the company announced at Airshow China in Zhuhai on Tuesday. In a statement released to wire services, Comac claims now to have collected orders for 430 of the new narrowbodies from 17 companies, primarily from China. One U.S.-based leasing company—GE Capital Aviation Services--signed an MOU for 10 of the 156- to 168-seat airplanes at the 2010 Zhuhai show. Two years later, at the same show, <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/airshow-china/2012-11-13/comac-sells-more-c919s-signs-liebherr-partner">it ordered another 10</a>.

 


Officially scheduled to fly for the first time by the end of 2015, the C919 should have made its first flight this year under Comac’s previous development schedule. Under current certification plans, the program appears unlikely to yield an airplane ready for delivery to a launch customer until 2018.

 


Assembly of the first prototype officially got under way in Shanghai in mid-September, when Comac announced the arrival of the middle and aft section of the fuselage. On October 15 the company announced the arrival of the nose section, and on October 30 the forward section of the aft fuselage. That part embodies the first Chinese attempt to use composite materials on a large area of a commercial airframe’s main structure.

 


Engine testing got under way on October 6, when CFM partners GE and Snecma ran the Leap-1C turbofan for the first time.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Comac Takes Order for 30 C919s

Company claims order tally now totals 430.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Low-speed taxi validates steering and braking systems

NASA’s Quiet Supersonic Jet Completes First Taxi Tests

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Part 1 of a series from new AIN Media Group title Leeham News and Analysis

What Shape Will the Next Generation of Airliners Take?

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

UK company’s eVTOL prototype flew from Cotswold Airport to the Fairford air force base

Vertical Touts VX4 eVTOL Military Missions at UK’s RIAT Air Show

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Options will include autonomous and hybrid-electric configurations

Regent Plans Military Variants for Viceroy Electric Seaglider

These machines remain relevant to the future of the aviation industry.

Zeppelin Airships Have One Foot in Aviation’s History, and the Other in Its Future

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Premier source for in-depth aerospace and airline industry insights added to group’s portfolio

AIN Completes Acquisition of Leeham News and Analysis

Curt Epstein

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Aircraft

NASA’s Quiet Supersonic Jet Completes First Taxi Tests

Low-speed taxi validates steering and braking systems

What Shape Will the Next Generation of Airliners Take?

Part 1 of a series from new AIN Media Group title Leeham News and Analysis

Vertical Touts VX4 eVTOL Military Missions at UK’s RIAT Air Show

UK company’s eVTOL prototype flew from Cotswold Airport to the Fairford air force base

Regent Plans Military Variants for Viceroy Electric Seaglider

Options will include autonomous and hybrid-electric configurations

Zeppelin Airships Have One Foot in Aviation’s History, and the Other in Its Future

These machines remain relevant to the future of the aviation industry.

AIN Completes Acquisition of Leeham News and Analysis

Premier source for in-depth aerospace and airline industry insights added to group’s portfolio

Rescuing DOC: The Tale of a B-29’s Triumphant Return to Wichita

Effort involved decades of negotiations and restoration but Wichita's deep labor pool came through

Cessna Skyhawk Switches on Electronic Ignition

Lycoming system reduces maintenance costs and improves performance

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